HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

[Greyum]

Hi,

I'm looking at doing a custom from LP scratch guitar and I'm looking at either an HH (with p-rails) or HHH (p-rails with center pickup to give something different).

Wiring thoughts is that I'd use a 7 position switch to flip between the various combinations for pick ups. Also each pick-up will have a triple shot.

What are your thoughts on a combination of 4 wire Humbuckers if I go with 3 of them? The idea is the get the greatest amount of tonal range as possible.

Thanks,

Greyum

 

[jeremy]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

ive never like three pup lps so id go HH, if you want to go HHH maybe a phat cat for something a little different

 

[Greyum]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

ive never like three pup lps so id go HH, if you want to go HHH maybe a phat cat for something a little different

Okay, if I go only HH would you suggest I stick with the p-rail combo?

 

[Greyum]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

Let me repose my initial question: What (in your opinion) H or H-Size pickup in the center position make it worth putting in?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

I love my Phat Cat in the center of my HHH.

 

[Mincer]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

Yeah a Phat Cat, or even a Stag Mag. There are some good switching options with that.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

A lot depends on what you want out of your middle pu. To my ear, a full-size humbucker is just murky and bland in the middle, like a greasy gas station muffin that sits in your gut like a hunk of lead for the next 250 miles. I prefer something thin and bright to get that quacky/clucky tone with one of the other pu's and kind of snarky/chirpy by itself. Thus, ideally a rod magnet single coil or 2nd best, a minihum or stack if you have to have noiseless.

Also, the full-size humbucker's magnetic field may interfere some with the magnetic fields of the other two pickups and change their sound a little whereas the far narrower magnetic field of a rod-mag pickup would interfere zero-to-negligible. This interference is not necessarily a bad thing, may even be an improvement to your ear but just beware...

 

[Greyum]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

A lot depends on what you want out of your middle pu. To my ear, a full-size humbucker is just murky and bland in the middle, like a greasy gas station muffin that sits in your gut like a hunk of lead for the next 250 miles. I prefer something thin and bright to get that quacky/clucky tone with one of the other pu's and kind of snarky/chirpy by itself. Thus, ideally a rod magnet single coil or 2nd best, a minihum or stack if you have to have noiseless.

Also, the full-size humbucker's magnetic field may interfere some with the magnetic fields of the other two pickups and change their sound a little whereas the far narrower magnetic field of a rod-mag pickup would interfere zero-to-negligible. This interference is not necessarily a bad thing, may even be an improvement to your ear but just beware...

Good points, I was thinking along the lines of a single or duo magnet as well (from outside forum research).

 

[SJ318]

Re: HH vs HHH Set-up? Initial Pick for that center H?

My couple of HSH guitars sound absolutely wonderful with either the neck/mid or bridge/mid.
Most of my Strats are now HS, no middle p'up, and have a Hybrid or Seth bridge with an 8K TwangBanger or other higher wound single coil in the neck. They also sound wonderful together.
No mid pickup. For now anyway.
Steve Buffington